Automatic gun



1945. M. M. JOHNSON, JR 2,383,487

AUTOMATIC GUN Filed March 13, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 *Aug. 28, 19 5- M. M. JOHNSON, JR 2,333,437

AUTOMATIC GUN v v Filed March 13, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOCKED Aug. 28, 1945.

M. M. JOHNSON, JR 2,383,487

' AUTOMATIC GUN Filed March 15, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,ifeZzJzhiZJo'izza 76,95! wumdi Ma W11 Aug. 28, 1945. v M. M. JOHNSON, JR

AUTOMATIC GUN Filed March 13, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 28, 1945.

M. M. JOHNSON, JR

AUTOMAT I C GUN .Filed March 15, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Aug. 28, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC GUN Melvin M. Johnson, J r., Brookline, Mass., assignor to Melvin M. Johnson, Melvin M. Johnson, Jr., and Edward E. Rice, as trustees of the Johnson Patent Trust, Boston, Mass.

Application March 13, 1941, Serial N 0. 383,071

13 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic and sem automatic guns, and more particularly to firearms Jf the military rifle and machine gun type. While any one of various kinds of breech action may be employed, this invention relating primarily to the fire-control mechanism, the breech action is preferably of the type disclosed in my prior Patents 2,094,156, 2,146,743 and 2,215,470.

The principalobjects of the present invention are to provide fire-control mechanism which is simple and economical in construction, which is reliable and durable in use, which can be assembled and disassembled with facility, which can be quickly and easily shifted from locked condition, in which the firearm can not be fired, to either automatic or semi-automatic condition, which permits the breech closure to remain in closed position after each semi-automatic shot, which retains the breech closure in retracted position after automatic firing, and which is generally superior to fire-control mechanisms heretofore proposed.

The invention involves means for holding the breech bolt inretracted position after automatic firing, thereby avoiding the danger of an accidental explosion which otherwise might result.

which firing is prevented. The gun may also have a trip for releasing the hammer in response to movement of the bolt from open to closed position, the trip also being controlled by the aforesaid switch so that the trip is operative when the switch is in automatic position but inoperative when the switch is in semi-automatic position.

For the purpose of illustration a ty ical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a firearm;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the breech mechanism:

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the switch of the fire-control mechanism for shift ng to any one of the three positions, locked position and. either automatic or semi-automatic firing positions;

Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive are sections on the corresponding lines of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the firecontrol mechanism in locked position, with the breech mechanism in forward locked position;

Fig. 9 is a similar section with the fire-control mechanism in semi-automatic position and the breech mechanism in forward locked position;

Fig. 10 is a similar section with the parts in full automatic position, with the trigger retracted and with the breech action closely approaching forward locked position;

Fig. 11 is a section on line I l-l l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the fire-control mechanism mounted in its subframe;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of parts of the firecontrol mechanism in locked position with the breech mechanism retracted;

Fig. 14 is a section on line l4l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged top plan view of a part of the firearm with portions of the receiver and barrel broken away to show parts of the breech mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the sear trip pin;

Fig. 1'? is a top plan view of the bolt;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of the bolt pusher;

, Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the pusher with parts in section;

Fig. 20 is a top plan View of the hammer and associated strut;

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the bolt catch sup- P Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the tri er;

Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 8, parts being omitted and the other parts being in locked position;

Fig. 24 is a similar view showing the parts in semi-automatic position, the trigger pulled and the hammer starting forward;

Fig. 25 is a top'plan view of the switch, trigger and bolt catch control; and

Fig. 26 is a top plan-view of the switch, scar and I sear trip.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration-comprises a barrel l and a receiver R telescoped together as shown in Fig. 15, the barrel being free to reciprocate back and forth in' the receiver from the forward position shown in Fig. 15 to the rearward position wherein the rear end of the barrel abuts subframe'R has a depending portion 4 which serves as a pistol-type grip, the sides of the depending portion being covered with face pieces 5 formed of wood or other suitable material. Attached to the rear end of the receiver is a stock 6, the upper portion of which has a cylindrical opening in line with the rear end of the receiver R. Extending through this cylindrical opening is a tube (not shown) which threads into the rear end of the subframe R; the rear end of the tube being closed by the screw cap I (Fig. 1). wooden grip piece 8 is mounted under the perforated extension of the receiver. Mounted in a recess in the receiver between the subframe R and the grip piece 8 is a magazine 9 such as disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 383,072, filed on even date herewith. The righthand side of the receiver is provided with a slot H to accommodate a bolt handle l2 with which the breech bolt may be retracted manually- Inasmuch as the breech mechanism is similar to that disclosed in the aforesaid patents, the following brief description will sumce for the purpose of the present disclosure. The bolt B reciprocates back and forth in the receiver and at the forward end of its movement it rotates clockwise into the locked position shown in Fig 15. At its forward end the bolt is provided with a circumferential row of abutments I3 for engagement behind similar abutments M on the barrel, each series of abutments having spaces therebetween to accommodate the abutments ol the other series as the bolt moves into and out of forward position. On its right-hand side the bolt is provided with a recess l8 (Fig. 2) to receive an extractor and the bolt handle l2 as disclosed in my prior Patent 2,181,131. Projecting upwardly from the bolt is an integral lug Il having cam surfaces i8 and IQ for rotating the bolt into locked and unlocked position respectively after the locking lugs is have moved through the slots between the locking lugs 84 at the forward end of the bolt movement (Figs. 2, 15 and 17). The bolt also carries a roller 2! which projects upwardly into the slot 22 to keep the bolt from rotating in its recoil movement (Fig. 15). The bolt is also provided with a pair of shoulders 23 for engagement with a bolt stop for holding the bolt in retracted position (Figs. 2, 13 and 1d) The bolt B is urged toward forward position by a recoil spring RS through the medium of a cam pusher P comprising a central portion having the same diameter as the bolt (Figs. 2, 8, 18 and 19), a reduced forward end telescoping into the bolt and a reduced rearward end over which the recoil spring is telescoped as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The forward end of the pusher P has an upward projection 27 provided with a cam surface 24 for engagement with the cam surface l8 on the bolt. Behind the cam 24 is a roller 26 for engagement in the slot 22 to prevent rotation of the pusher as it reciprocates back and forth with the bolt. As shown in Figs. 15, 17 and 19 the upstanding forward portion 2! of the pusher is located in front of a projection 28' on the bolt to limit the longitudinal movement of one part relative to the other after they have been ing pin recess 3! in line with a corresponding re- 6955 in the bolt. Longitudinal movement of the firing pin in the bore 3| is limited by a semi-circular key fitting into the recess 32 (Figs. 18 and 19). The rearward end of the larger central portion of the pusher P is-provided with a. vertical bore 30 (Fig. 18) to receive a gear trip pin TP having a. recess 33 to receive a spring 34 and having an eccentric head 36 to limit its downward movement. Telescoped over the smaller rearward end of the pusher is a ring 31 having a forward projection 38 fitting into a recess 39. On its under side the projection 38 is provided with a recess 4! to receive the upper end of the spring 34. The rearward end of the pusher is provided with a longitudinal recess 42 to receive a buffer 43 which is retained by a pin 44 extending through a recess 46 in the side of the buffer, a buffer spring il normally holding the buffer in the rearward position shown in Fig. 8. When the bolt recoils the reduced rearward end of the pusher P moves into the aforesaid tube in the stock 6 and the buffer 43 impinges on the inner face of the cap I.

Referring to Fig. 15 the operation of the breech mechanism is as follows. When the gun is fired the barrel 1, bolt'B and pusher P move rearwardly together until the rear end of the barrel engages the abutment 2. During this short movement cam l9 engages an opposing cam surface on the receiver, thereby rotating the bolt into the unlocked position in which roller 2| is aligned with slot 22 and the lugs 13 on the bolt head are aligned with the slots between the lugs M on the barrel. By virtue of their momentum the bolt and pusher then continue to the rear. On the forward movement of the pusher the cam 24, engaging cam l8 on the bolt, rotates the bolt into locked position after roller 2| has left the forward end of slot 22 and after the bolt lugs l3 have passed between the barrel lugs I4.

The firing mechanism comprises a trigger T which is pivotally mounted in the frame R by means of a pin 48 extending through openings 49 in the two upstanding portions 5| of the trigger and thence through the side walls of the frame R (Figs. 10 and 11). At its left-hand side the trigger is provided with a forward extension 52 which engages with the leaf 53 of a two-leaf spring 54 (Figs. 12and 13). At its rearward end the trigger is provided with an extension 56 having a rearwardly facing abutment face 51, the left-hand side of the projection being cut away as shown at 58 to reduce the weight of the trigger (Fig. 22). The upper surface of the trigger is beveled at 59 to provide clearance space for a portion of the sear as hereinafter described. Angular movement of the trigger about the pivot pin 48 in response to the spring 53 is limited by a shoulder 6| on the frame E (Fig. 10).

Pivotally mounted at 62 is a trigger release TR having a nose 63 for engagement with the lower end of the rearwardly facing abutment surface 51 of the trigger to prevent accidental movement of the trigger, the trigger release being held in the operative position shown in Figs. 8 and 9'by means of a spring 64 engaging the rear edge of a fingerpiece which projects through an opening in the forward side of the grip 4. When the grip 4 is grasped to fire the gun the trigger release is automatically retracted to inoperative position by engagement of the hand with the projecting fingerpiece.

In the space between the two upstanding ears .5l of the trigger the sear Sis pivotally mounted on the pin 48 to swing clockwise (Figs. 8, 9 and from its hammer-holding, position to a forward position in which the hammer is disengaged. The sear is provided with two upstanding hooks 81 and 88 for engagement with corresponding hooks on the hammer 8, the hook 61 serving to catch the hammer in retracted position when the trigger is in normal position and the hook 68 serving to catch the hammer if the trigger is in retracted position when the hammer is cooked. If the hammer engages hook 68 it automatically shifts to hook 61 when the trigger is released. The sear is yieldingly held in the normal position shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 by means of a spring 69 constituting the second leaf of the aforesaid twoleaf spring 54. In semi-automatic operation the sear is disengaged from the hammer by engagement between the rearward end of the bottom surface of the sear and the surface 1| of the trigger (Fig. 22). As shown in Fig. 9 there is considerable clearance between these two inter-engaging surfaces so that the trigger may be retracted a short distance without moving the sear. When the 2,sss,4

parts are set for full automatic operation a stop limits the rearward movement of the trigger to the position shown in'Fig. 10 when the trigger has moved into contact with the sear but has not moved the sear.

The hammer 8 comprises a hub II (Fig. 20) pivoted in the frame R on a pin I2, the hub havinr, a tail I3 for engagement with an upwardly facing surface of the frame to limit the angular movement of the hammer somewhat beyond firing position when the frame is removed from the receiver. At its free end the hammer is provided with lateral projections I4 for engagement with the lugs 29 in the pusher slot if the hammer is released before the bolt reaches its forward locked position, after which the projections I4 pass behind the lugs 29 as will be evident from Figs. 8 and 9 in which the bolt is in forward locked posit on. Depending from the free end of the hammer is a neck I6 having a head for engagement behind the hooks 61 and 68 on the sear. The hammer is urged toward firing position by means of a spring HS acting through the medium of a strut U comprising a cylindrical rearward portion TI and a bifurcated forward portion I8 which straddles the hammer and is pivoted to the hammer at I9.

The mechanism for holding the bolt in retracted position comprises a bolt catch BC and a bolt catch support CS mounted in the frame R bv means of a pin 8I like pin 48. the heads of both pins be ng covered by a plate 82 (Figs. 11 to 14). The bolt catch BC is pivoted on a pin 83 extending through two upstanding lugs 84 on the catch support CS. As shown in Figs. 13- and 14 the bolt catch has two cars 85 forengagement with the bolt shoulders 23 and a forwardly extending arm 81 for moving the bolt catch out of engagement with the bolt. The bolt catch is urged into operative position by means of a U-shaped wire spring A which seats in recesses 88 (Fig. 14) in the bottom of the bolt catch and the ends of which are mounted in slots in the opposite sides of the catch support CS. As shown in Fig. 21 the catch support is provided with an opening C to accommodate the strut U and the catch support is bollowed out to provide an abutting surface D for the rearward end of the hammer spring HS. At the bottom of its forward face the catch support CS is provided with a slot E to receive a bell-crank detent F which is pivotally mounted on the catch support with a pin 88 (Figs. 23 and 24). At the lower end the detent F has a forwardly facing protuberance 89 for engagement in the recesses 80 of the switch W hereinafter described. A spring G seating in a recess I yieldingly urges the detent into operative position. The forwardly projecting arm at the upper end of the detent facilitates retraction of the detent by downward pressure on the arm with the end of a cartridge or the like inserted through the open top of the subframe R.

Pivotally mounted on the right-hand end of the pin 48 is a bolt catch control CC in the form of a flat plate having its side outline shown in Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 13. The bottom of this catch control piece is engageable with an upper surface SI on the trigger (Fig. 22) to swing the catch control CC into the position shown in Fig. 10 where it disengages the bolt catch BC from the bolt.

In full automatic operation the sear is not controlled directly by the trigger but only indirectly through the medium of a sear trip ST actuated by the aforesaid trip pin 'I'P. As shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 26vthe sear trip is U-shaped, its two legs having vertical portions 92 and horizontal portions 93, the latter being pivotally mounted on the sear by means of a pin 94. At the junction between. the vertical and horizontal portions 92 and 93 of the left-hand leg the sear trip ST is provided with a rearward extension 95. (Figs. 10,

12 and 26) for moving the sear trip from the inoperative position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to the operative position shown in Fig. 10. At their upper ends the legs 92 are joined by a nose 96 for engagement with the trip pin TP. The sear trip has a tail L (Figs. 8. 10 and 12) engageable with the spring 69 for urging the sear S and sear trip ST (which are interconnected by pivot pin 04) in a counterclockwise direction around the sear pivot pin 48.

When the sear trip ST is raised to the operative position shown in Fig. 10 the nose 96 is engaged by the trip pin '1? as the bolt reaches forward locked position, moving the sear trip from the full-lineposition to the broken-line position in Fig. 10. This movement forces the forward end of the sear trip downwardly against the action of spring 59, and inasmuch as the sear S is interconnected with the sear trip through pin 94 the sear is also moved far enough to disengage the hammer H, thus firing the gun as soon as the bolt reaches its locked position.

The aforesaid switch W for controlling the firing mechanism comprises the rotor shown in detail in Figs. 3 to '7. The device comprises a cylinder having its ends IM and I02 journaled in the side walls of the frame R as shown in Fig. 12. At the right-hand end the switch has a handle I03 located outside the frame R for turning the switch to either one of its three positions. Intermediate its ends the switch has three circumferential recesses I04, I05 and I06. The recess I04, which receives the catch control CC (Fig. 25), extends throughout approximately 270 (Fig. 4) leaving a solid quadrant I08. The groove I05 receives the rear end 95 of the sear trip ST (Fig. 26) and the groove I06 receives the protuberance 89 of the detent F (Fi 25). The solid portion I09 at the grcove I05 is located eccentrically so that it is substantially flush with the periphery of the cylinder at the the groove I06 approximately flush with the pedeep and shallow recesses to receive the rear end 51 of the trigger I in semi-automatic and fu v automatic operation respectively.

When the parts are in locked position as shown Fig. 5 (Figs. 3, 23 and 25), the catch control' CC drops into the groove I04 against the solid part I08 (Figs. 13 and 25) to permit. the spring A to lift the bolt catch BC into position to hold the bolt in retracted position, the rear end 95 of the sear trip drops into the groove I05 against the fiat surface II2 (Fig. 26).so that the upper end 96 of the sear trip is out of the path of the trip pin TP ,and the protuberance 89 of the detent F is pressed into the middle recess 90 of the three recesses in the bottom of the groove I06 (Fig. 7) yieldingly to hold the switch in its locked position.

For semi-automatic firing the switch W is rotated until the handle I03 projects forwardly to the letter S in Fig. 1. With the switch in this semi-automatic position the rear end 95 of the sear trip rests on the' bottom of the groove I 05 at approximately the point, II (Fig. 6) so that the upper end 96 of the sear trip is still out of the path of the trip pin TP (Figs. 9 and 24). The part I08 lifts the catch control CC out of the groove I04, thereby swinging the bolt catch BC to inoperative position and if the bolt is retracted permitting it to move to closed position, and the deep recess H5 is opposite the rear edge 51 of the trigger so that the trigger can be retracted to rearmost position. During the first half of the trigger retraction the clearance space between the top of the trigger and the bottom of the sear is closed and during the last half of the retraction the sear S is swung about the pivot 48 to disengage the hammer (Fig. 24) whereupon the hammer spring HS swings the hammer into engagement with the rear end of the firing pin FP. As the bolt recoils the surface I2I cams the hammer back into engagement with the sear. If the trigger' has been released the hammer catches on thehook 67, but if the trigger is still in retracted position the hammer is retained by the book 68 until the trigger is released whereupon the hammer shifts over to the hook 61. Inasmuch as the bolt catch BC is held in inoperative position while the parts are set for semi-automatic operation, the bolt closes after each shot and the trigger must be actuated for each shot.

For full automatic operation the handle I03 of the switch W is turned to the rear opposite the .letter F in Fig. 1. In this position the detent 89 seats in the recess 90 which is uppermost in Fig. 7 the projecting end of pin I I3 obstructing further movement of the switch in this direction. Referring to Fig. 10 in which the parts are set for full automatic operation, the catch control CC is free to drop into the groove I04 when. the

trigger is released, thereby permitting the spring A to move the bolt catch BC into position to retain the bolt in retracted position. The shallow recess II6 (Fig. 5) is opposite the rear edge 51 of the trigger so that the trigger can be retracted only far enough to close the clearance space between the top of the trigger and the bottom of the scar and no further. Thus the riphery of the rotor. Adjacent the groove I 06' the rotor is flattened at H5 and H6 to produce.

trigger does not act directly on the sear to disengage it from the hammer. However this short retraction of the trigger is sufilcient to disengage the bolt catch BC from the bolt through the medium of the catch control plate CC. The rear 'end of the sear trip ST rests on the switch W at approximately the point IIO (Fig. 6), thereby holding the upper end 96 of the sear trip in the path of the trip pin TP. Thus when the bolt reaches locked position the trip pin moves the sear trip from the full-line position to the .bolt continues to reciprocate back and forth in full automaticoperation. When the trigger is ultimately released the bolt. catch moves up to retain the bolt in retracted position. Thus in full automatic operation a cartridge is not left in the hot firing chamber after. the last shot. However if firing is discontinued because of exhaustion of ammunition in the magazine instead of release of the trigger the bolt is permitted to stop in forward position.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the bolt always stops in forward closed position except at the end of a period of full automatic operation when a loaded cartridge would otherwise be left in a hot firing chamber, which is dangerous.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of I the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing'spring for the closure, a hammer, a scar for holding the hammer in cocked position, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip for disengaging the sear from the hammer, the trip having a part projecting into the path of the closure to be actuated by the closure in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle for controlling said trip and holding means, means for mounting the handle for movement to and from semi-automatic position, and means kinematically interposed between the handle, trip and holding means for moving the trip and holding means to inoperative position when the handle is moved to semi-automatic position,

2. An automatic gun comprising a bolt movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a sear for holding the hammer in cocked position, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip for disengaging the sear from the hammer, the trip having a. part projecting into the path of the closure to be actuated by the closure in response to movement of the bolt from open to closed position, a bolt catch for holding the bolt in open position, a handle for controlling said trip and boltcatch, a catchcontrol interposed'between the handle and bolt catch, means for mounting the handle for movement to and from semi-automatic position, and means including said catch-control for rendering the trip and bolt catch inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic posicocked position, a trigger for disengaging the I sear from the hammer, a trip for disengaging the sear from the hammer, the trip having a part projecting into the path of the closure to be ac- ,tuated by the closure in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle for controlling said trip and holding means. means for mounting the handle for movement between semi-automatic and locked positions, means kinematically interposed between the handle, trip and holding means for moving the trip and holding means to inoperative position when thehandle is moved to said semi-automatic position, and means interposed between the handle and trigger for rendering the trigger inoperative when the handle is moved to said locked position.

4. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a sear for holding the hammer in cocked position, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip fordiseng'aging the sear from the hammer, the trip having a part projecting into the path of the closure to be actuated by the closure in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle movable to and from semi-automatic position,

means interposed between the trigger and hammerfor releasing the hammer by the trigger while the handle is in said semi-automatic position, and means interposed between the handle and trip and holding means for rendering the trip and holding means inoperative when the handle is moved to semi-automatic position.

5. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a sear for holding the hammer in cocked position, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip for disengaging the sear from the hammer, the trip having a part projecting into thepath of the closure to be actuated by the closure in response to movement of the closure from open to closed posi tion, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and holding means, the handle being movable between locked and semi-automatic positions, means interposed between the trigger and hammer for releasing the hammer by the trigger While the handle is in said semi-automatic position, means interposed between the handle and trip and holding means for rendering said trip and holding means inoperative when the handle is moved to semi-automatic position, and means interposed between the handle and trigger for rendering said trigger inoperative when the handle is in said locked position.

6. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip interposed between the breech closure and the sear for releasing the. sear in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and holding means, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic positions, means interposed between the handle and trip and holding means for rendering the trip and holding means inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic position, means for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved a predetermined distance with the handle in semiautomatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from said holding means when the trigger is moved a lesser distance with the handle in automatic'position, and. means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said lesser distance when the handle is in automatic position.

, '7. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger for disengaging the sear from the hammer, a trip interposed between the breech closure and the sear for releasing the sear in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, means for holding the closure in open position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and holding means, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic and locked positions. means interposed between the handle and trip and holding means for rendering said trip and holding means inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic position, means for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved a predetermined distance with the handle in semi-automatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from said holding means when the trigger is moved a lesser distance with the handle in automatic position, means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said lesser distance when the handle is in automatic position, and means for rendering the trigger inoperative when the handle is in said locked po sition.

8. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger movable to a retracted position to actuate the sear, the trigger and sear having clearance therebetween so that the trigger may be moved toan I trip and holding means, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic position, means interposed between the handle and trip and holding means for rendering said trip and holding means inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic position, means for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved to said retracted position with the handle in semi-automatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from said holding means when the trigger is moved to said intermediate position with the handle in automatic position, and means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said intermediate .position when'the handle is in automatic position.

9. An automatic firearm comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a trigger, semi-automatic means including a sear for releasing the hammer in response to the trigger when the-closure is in closed position, full-automatic means including a sear trip for releasing the hammer in response to the closing movement of the closure, a catch for holding the bolt'in open position, a handle for conjointly controlling said sear, trip and catch, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic positions, means preventing the sear from releasing the hammer in direct response to the trigger when, the handle is in automatic position, and means interposed between the handle and trip and catch for rendering said trip and catch inoperative when the handle is moved to semi-automatic position, whereby the closure remains closed after each shot when the handle is in semi-automatic position but remains in open position after each burst when the handle is in full-automatic position.

10. An automatic firearm comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a trigger, semi-automatic means including a sear for releasing the hammer in response to the trigger when the closure,

is in'closed position, full-automatic means including a scar trip for releasing the hammer in response to the closing movement 'of'the closure, a catch for holding the bolt in open position, a controller for moving the catch out of holding position, a handle for conjointly controlling said sear trip and catch, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic positions, means preventing the sear from releas ing the hammer in direct response to the trigger when the handle is in automatic position, and means including said controller for rendering said trip and catch inoperative when the handle is moved to semi-automatic position, whereby the closure remains closed after each shot when the handle is in semi-automatic position but remains in open position after each burst when the handle is in full-automatic position. 1

11. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger, a trip for actuating the sear in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, a catch -for holding the closure in open position, a controller for moving the catch out of holding position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and catch, the handle being movable be- -tween automatic and semi-automatic positions,

for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved a predetermined distance with the handle in semi-automatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from saidcatch when the trigger is moved a lesser distance with the handle in automatic position, and means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said lesser distance when the handle is in automatic position.

12. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and openv positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger, a trip actuating the sear in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, a catch for holding the closure in open position, a controller for moving the catch out of holding position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and catch, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic and locked positions, means including said controller for rendering said trip and catch inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic position, means for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved a predetermined distance with the handle in semi-automatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from said catch when the trigger is moved a lesser distance with the handle in automatic position, means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said lesser distance when the handle is in automatic position, and means for rendering the trigger inoperative when the handle is in said locked position.

13. An automatic gun comprising a breech closure movable back and forth between closed and open positions, a closing spring for the closure, a hammer, a hammer sear, a trigger movable 'to a retracted position to actuate the sear, the

trigger and sear having clearance therebetween to permit the trigger to be moved to an intermediate position without actuating the sear, a trip'controlling the sear in response to movement of the closure from open to closed position, a catch for holding the closure in open position, a controller for moving the catch out of holding position, a handle for controlling said trigger and trip and catch, the handle being movable between automatic and semi-automatic positions, means including said controller for rendering said trip and catch inoperative when the handle is moved to said semi-automatic position, means for actuating the sear when the trigger is moved tosaid retracted position with 'the handle in semi-automatic position, means for releasing the breech closure from said catch when the trigger is moved' to said intermediate position with the handle in automatic position, and means for restricting the movement of the trigger to said intermediate position when the handle is in automatic position.

MELVIN M. JOHNSON, JR. 

